This full body sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, sculpted in 1941, by Avard T. Fairbanks, depicts Lincoln during his time as a frontiersman.
The base of the sculpture has a tree stump with two large logs that have been cut. Lincoln stands with his left leg straight and his left foot on the ground, just next to one log. His right leg is bent, with his right foot on top of one log and in front of the tree stump. He is holding a long handled double-headed axe, with his left hand around the grip and his right hand around the shoulder of the axe handle. The axe rests across his left hip and right thigh. He is wearing period clothing with square toed boots trousers, vest, and a button up shirt the is unbottoned about half way down his chest, with the sleeves rolled up above his elbows. His is clean shaven, looking straight ahead, with a determined look on his face. The plinth is a short darker colored museum display stand.
Katherine Burke, a teacher in Hawaii, so admired Abraham Lincoln, that she left her life savings to erect a statue of the "Great Emancipator" at the Ewa Plantation School, where she had taught. The estate was modest and other sculptors rejected the commission, but Avard Fairbanks welcomed the opportunity and envisioned a young Lincoln at the frontier, (since Hawaii was then a frontier for the United States). Conceiving a vigorous young man with foresight and determination, he modeled Lincoln fulfilling a daily labor, but with a vision for future achievements.
This is the plaster cast working model, painted to appear bronze, (2/3 life size), for the final 9 foot bronze heroic (4/3 life size) sculpture, erected at Ewa, Hawaii.
This collection of Abraham Lincoln sculptures was created by the native Utah and internationally important American sculptor, Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks.
They Depict Lincoln at different stages of his life; (as a frontiersman, at the pivotal time when he put down the axe of the frontiersman and began the study of letters, as an orator, as a political candidate participating in the Lincoln - Douglas debate, as the American President, and writing the Gettysburg Address).
Many of the sculptures in this Abraham Lincoln collection are replicas of sculptures located throughout the country. Additional information on the original sculptures, including this one, can be found at: (
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Another article about the original sculpture in Ewa, Hawaii can be found on the "Around Hawaii" website: (
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The original in Ewa, Hawaii has not been waymarked at this time.
"Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks
Born: March 2, 1897 - Died: January 1, 1987
Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was born in Provo Utah in 1897. The son of John B. Fairbanks a well known artist, Avard will continue the family legacy as a prolific sculptor. With the death of his mother Lilly when he was only about a year old, and his father busy providing for his family Avard’s brother J. Leo Fairbanks will manage the family.
At the age of 12, Avard showed interest in sculpting. With the guidance of J. Leo, Avard’s first work was a clay model of a rabbit. This model would win first prize in the State Fair. At the age of 13, Avard would follow his father to New York City. Modeling animals from the Bronx Zoological Gardens and showing a natural talent for sculpting, Avard would be awarded scholarships to study at the Arts Students League at New York. During this time Avard would become personally acquainted with several notable sculptors. These included Cyrus E. Dallin (sculptor of the Winfield Scott Hancock on the Pennsylvania Memorial) and Lorado Taft (sculptor of the 3rd, 4th Michigan Infantry Monuments and the Michigan “Custer” Memorial). In 1913 Avard would move to Paris to study at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts. While in Paris he would also study at the Ecole de la Grande Chaumiere and other noted schools.
Today, Fairbanks is considered one of the most distinguished sculptors in America. His statues have been erected around the world. Throughout the United States, Fairbanks is particularly well known for his Lincoln monuments. Four of his works are on permanent display in the U.S. Capitol Building’s statuary hall as well as four marble busts of Lincoln located in Ford Theater, Washington DC." (
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"An outstanding regional cultural center which showcases regional history, art and a world-class collection of Arvard T. Fairbanks's works of art. The museum features sculptures, a replica of the Huntington Mammoth, carvings, and artwork. Two buildings of exhibits will keep visitors engaged for hours." (
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"Historical artifacts, art (sculpture and painting), humanities lectures, school tours, local historic archive, oral history collection, family history collection. New Columbian Mammoth skeleton, extensive Avard Fairbank sculpture collection." (
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